A wedding is one of life’s major rites of passage. It is certainly something to celebrate! Today, wedding books and magazines promote large weddings so that more and more wedding products can be sold. Wedding expenditures run into many thousands of dollars. And after this major outlay of money, most of what is purchased is never used again.

On the Spring Equinox 2004, my ex-husband (yes, that’s right! my ex-husband!) Larry and I remarried. We had been together for almost seventeen years, and had divorced several years ago when our relationship problems seemed impossible to resolve. But we still loved each other, so we figured out what to do to make things better, and are now happier than ever.

In planning our wedding, we wanted to keep it simple, small, and full of meaning. We wanted a ceremony and celebration that would be easy to prepare for and manage. We wanted an intimate occasion, surrounded by our closest friends who would participate with us in the intention of our union. And as we planned our wedding, we used the same guidelines for health and the environment that we practice in our daily home life.

Since most books and articles are about planning big weddings, I want to offer some tips on planning another sort of wedding that can be beautiful and meaningful in it’s own way.

* Make it your day. Each wedding can and should be a unique expression of the couple getting married. So create the day just the way you want it, to please the two of you.

* Choose the wedding traditions that are important to you. When it comes right down to it, the essentials of a wedding are the two people to be married, the minister or justice of the peace who performs the ceremony, the ceremony itself, and the guests who witness it. Everything else is decoration and tradition. Learn about wedding traditions and choose to do those that will make your day special.

* Write your own ceremony. The entire reason for having a wedding, really, is the ceremony. The most important aspect of a wedding is not the decorations, but the vows and intentions that are stated in the ceremony and that you give to each other. Research the time-honored patterns to wedding ceremonies and follow this pattern in your own personal way.

* Invite meaningful guests. When you have a small number of guests, you can spend more time with them and really experience their presence. Minimum is just the two of you, the minister, and a witness. Invite family and friends with whom you have real relationships. Eliminate those that might be invited out of social obligation.

* Have your wedding at home, either indoors or in

Details, details, details. Paying attention to details, that’s what makes a good wedding great. As the maid of honor or best man, a lovely send off for the newlyweds is a tastefully decorated car-announcing to the world "Here comes Mr. & Mrs. Happy Couple"!

Big Splurge

If you’re the best man and you have deep pockets, a wonderful wedding treat is splurging for a vintage or customized car for your pal. Match the car to the personality of the couple. Are they sporty and nuts about the outdoors? Rent a custom Hummer H-2. Are they refined Anglophiles? Find a Bentley Azure convertible to take them to their honeymoon in style. In Chicago, a Hummer goes for $399 per day with 100 free miles from rentexoticcars.com. Exotic Rentals has locations in many major cities and offers a wide selection. Contact the luxury rental car office in your area to find out about inventory.

Flowers

Think romance when deciding on car wedding decorations. Soaped up windows with "Donna and James Forever" and cans trailing off the back leaves a bit to be desired.

Contact the florist that was hired for the wedding and inquire about purchasing additional flowers to decorate the car. An antique car looks splendid with carefully placed ivy woven around the chrome details.

Ribbon & Bells

You don’t have to take all the fun out of car decoration. Bells and ribbons can be attached to the car calling attention to all who drive by. Try to pick ribbon in complimentary colors to the car. Tulle is another option. Purchase tulle by the yard and adorn the hood with a pretty bow.

For the most meager budget, a hand painted sign can be affixed to the trunk of the car spelling out the joyous news.

Balloons

Customize your balloons at a local party store. Have the bride and groom’s name and wedding date printed on colored balloons. Hide wedding car decorations during the reception and sneak out to affix the balloons to the car, be careful no to obstruct the driver’s vision!

Writing

If you must write on the car, be sure to select a glass marker for any personalize messages you transcribe as car wedding decorations. Soap or other non-specialized markers can damage paint and ruin a perfectly good honeymoon! Glass markers were uniquely designed to be applied to glass. The paint dries quickly and is removable with a damp cloth.

Execution

Step

For many brides, the wedding ceremony starts long before they walk down the aisle to stand beside their groom at the alter. For many, it is the preparation that they have dreamed about for so long. The spa day with the brides maids, the hair, the make up, fitting of the dress, putting the final touches on the flowers… these are all taken care of ceremoniously by the bride, and her brides maids. It is a time of pampering and luxury, that we seldom have an excuse for, except on the fabulous occasion of the wedding day.

Unfortunately, it is part of the day that can make or break the flow of the hours to follow. Careful planning and consideration must take place well in advance of your wedding day to ensure a schedule that can be maintained and adhered to. Nothing can create tension quite like the scene of a groom left waiting at the alter, as the bride call from the salon to announce that they are running a little late.

You already have the basic ideas of what needs to take place in the morning of your wedding day, such as hair and make up; but did you consider, also, that every brides maid in you wedding party needs to do the same? Did you consider how you would all get to the salon, and when? Where is everyone getting dressed, and when are we possibly going to have time to take pictures? The brides home is one location that often torments photographers, as it is often the most hectic time of the day. The following is a list of things the a bride and brides maids should consider when planning the morning event on the wedding day.

Set your alarm - sounds silly doesn’t it, but it has saved many a marriage before they even wed Eat breakfast - trust me, it is a very long day and you’ll need the energy Shower - it is something you do every day, but you’ll forget to schedule time for it in a panic Round up the brides maids - if they spent the night, you won’t have any difficulty there Head to the spa / salon - you’ll have booked the earliest appointments months in advance, and keep in mind that the bride should have all of her treatments done first Head back to the brides home - as soon as the bride has her hair and make up done, she should head back home to get dressed and photographed; the photographer will need an hour or two to get all the shots that you require Have the flowers arrived yet? Eat lunch - once you (the bride) has had her

In times gone by it wasn’t uncommon for young couples to consult the Tarot as to what month of the year according to the stars would be their best time to wed, this would depend on what time of year their sun or moon sign was inline with Venus the goddess of love, which I would take as a positive sign, and so on. Personally I would like to think that the longevity of a marriage would depend on the love of you and your partner and not on the date you get married.

These days the factors that make us decide differ a little. Each season brings its own style and flavor to a wedding. The time of year you choose to get married will indeed affect the style and economics of the wedding in many ways including location of the reception, honeymoon destinations, wedding theme and price. Whatever type of wedding you desire there will be a season to suit you.

An autumn wedding brings to mind golden and copper themes through the fabrics and the flowers. Flowers this season are earthy yet rich. Take bold colors in purples russets, yellow and reds. Add a natural twist with dark leafy foliages and wood containers. If you choose flowers that are in season this will bring down the cost a little.

Seasonal fruits that you can include on the menu are Apples and Pears; these are in season all year round. All these factors combined will bring a nice autumn breeze to the day. Bear in mind that August is quite popular for weddings, if you are having the reception in a hotel book well in advance. The weather is also superb if you are thinking of honeymooning in Europe. Stay clear of south East Asia though as these are experiencing their monsoon seasons.

The winter wonderland wedding, a very romantic setting of Burning log fires, mulled wine receptions and Christmas card settings. This would defiantly be an indoor wedding, maybe in a castle or Hotel adorned with rich reds and golden glowing candles.

A December wedding is a good idea as the wedding reception price is dropped in many hotels in the first few days after Christmas. The holiday spirit that is still lingering at this time will add to the atmosphere. Snowdrops, Tulips, Amaryllis, and White geisha include some of the winter blooms. Seasonal fruits to be enjoyed include winterberries, Apricots, Cherries and dates.

A New Years Eve wedding can be a good idea, ringing in the New Year with a festive and fun time for all involved. Honeymoon destinations for the winter months vary, you can opt for a skiing holiday with a romantic log cabin accommodation or maybe head for the